The Panorama programme on BBC 1 (23 April 2012) highlights the very, very sad plight of the elderly who are living in care homes in Britain today.

It is 2012, as a nation we are living longer, and the chances of needing nursing home care in the future, are highly likely.

The programme was one that you could only watch in complete disbelief, whilst trying to avert your gaze from the terrifying treatment that was being meted out to Maria Worroll.

It is little wonder that she had started to mutter “oh God” every time one of the carers came into her room.

Paula Bridge, Senior Consultant at Ralli has spoken to the press regularly in relation to this kind of problem in nursing homes and at the moment, is assisting several TV production companies in the production of other documentaries.

Since 2006 Ralli has been working on cases of neglect on behalf of families who have experienced relatives suffering some dreadful injuries.

These injuries have been sustained in the very places where they ought to have been safe. They have been abused by so called carers and the enquiries continue to come in at an alarming rate.

So, what of the bodies that are set up to monitor these nursing homes?

What role do they play in this terrible indictment of the way we care for our elderly in Britain?

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) say:

“CQC carries out an unannounced inspection of every care and nursing home in England every year – more often if we believe people may be at risk. This system of regulation can and does identify poor care which CQC then takes action to tackle.”

They go on to say: “It is the responsibility of the people who run and work in care homes to make sure they meet essential standards of care and to deliver good, safe care. CQC’s role is to check this through unannounced inspections and take action where we see poor care.

Care staff, homes, councils, police and other stakeholders all have a part to play in the prevention of elder abuse. CQC also relies heavily on information from people who receive care and their families and friends. Anyone who sees evidence of abuse should call our whistleblower hotline.”

After seeing Maria Worroll’s treatment, that will give little comfort to the families of victims of abuse or indeed the victims themselves.

Interesting that at the same time as the BBC are making documentaries as powerful as this, we see comedians like Ricky Gervais making a comedy programme based in a nursing home.

Would Mr. Gervais have centered the programme around a children’s home?

No, probably not.  It seems the elderly and vulnerable are fair game and I wonder if we really are a nation of people who have forgotten that our elderly exist.